Comments on: Amtrak Strike Will Be a Subway Disaster

By: The SUBWAYblogger

The SUBWAYblogger — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:17:47 +0000

I’d have thought “subway blogger” would know something about his/her topic, but this is the internet.

Well, most people here don’t have a degree in engineering science. So, what I said is basically true. Of course, we thank you for the details.

By: bob

bob — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:12:55 +0000

Oops, sorry about that snide last sentence. Now that I looked around a bit I see this site is a different focus. And sorry about the spelling errors, that was never my forte.

If there is a strike “Screw it and drive” probably won’t be an option. Expect the city to put in carpool restrictions to get into Manhattan (and, coincidentally, prove the mayors congestion plan can work). But it ain’t gonna be pretty in Queens. And, it occurs to me, this is a pretty bad time to take the 7 line express track out of service. Shea Stadium makes a good park & ride.

By: bob

bob — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:05:24 +0000

Actually it’s not just “control the switches”. It’s called dispatching and it means making all the decisions. Switches and signals are just part of how the decisions take affect. PSNY is owned by Amtrak, but jointly dispatched by Amtrak and LIRR. NJT turned down a chance to be a partner, and is considered a tennant.

When this came up last time the TA planned to run trains over the Jamaica line from Jamaica to the 6th Ave line to serve midtown (there is a connection just west of Essex St, not normally used for revenue service).

Historically, when railroads strike (they have different labor laws than everyone else) Congress intervenes and imposes the terms of the Presidential Board. So this will probably be short.

I’d have thought “subway blogger” would know something about his/her topic, but this is the internet.

By: Ben K.

Ben K. — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:18:12 +0000

Most of those alternate-route access points are fairly isolated. People coming on PATH will impact Lower Manhattan and the subways around the WTC transit hub. People coming into the Atlantic Ave. LIRR hub already can’t connect to Penn Station without taking the subway. Folks getting off at Jamaica (in Queens) are limited by the number of trains that run there.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the subways won’t seem any more crowded than they usually do when or if this strike hits. That’s just my guess though.

By: epc

epc — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:26:24 +0000

LIRR riders could get off at Jamaica Queens or downtown Brooklyn (Atlantic & Flatbush).

Am wondering if LIRR could get off at Hunterspoint and take a ferry (or the 7).

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:53:23 +0000

isn’t Jamaica in Queens?